Docs open under Finder window under Sequoia

So color me surprised... I did some more tests and the issue with docs (.png or .pdf) opened with Preview.app consistently open BEHIND rather than on TOP of any other active window...

I decided to give a try to doing a SAFE boot... Did so and the problem went away while in SAFE mode... Then restarted and rebooted normally.... and.... The problem stayed away... Now, at least for the moment, .png files open on top as they should... I did notice when I came back to this normal boot and when I first double clicked a .png file on my desktop that rather than opening anywhere quickly, the Preview.app bounced three or four times while it launched which is NOT typical... Then when it opened, the .png file opened on top... Tried a few more times and so far, it's working normally... thoughts on what a SAFE boot did to help??? thanks....

Got it... Thanks for the heads up on the EtreCheck Pro version... Already downloaded the 6.8.6 version...

And regarding booting in SAFE mode, I'm surprised (pleasantly) that it has, at least for the moment, corrected my issue... I've even done a couple more normal reboots just to see if it sticks and so far yes... Now, .png or .pdf files opening in Preview.app once again open on top of whatever else is there... Who'd a thought???

Again, thanks for all your help!!!!

So.... The plot gets tougher... After having success fixing this Preview.app opening under rather than on top of other say Safari pages (or whatever) by doing a SAFE boot and then a normal restart, it worked fine all day yesterday but now today, no shutdowns, restarts or whatever, computer has been on throughout, it started again opening behind other docs... I did the only thing I know to try, rebooted into SAFE mode, tried Preview.app there and docs opened on top as one would expect, then rebooted normally and now, once again, docs are again opening on top... But I assume this is going to keep happening... Any thoughts on how I might chase down what I have that is causing this issue to keep coming back??? Again, this started the day I upgraded from Sonoma to Sequoia... thanks...

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly... So here is what I see... I save a lot of screenshots, all the time... that save to my desktop as .png files that open with Preview... I also, to do a test, just dropped a TextEdit doc (.rtf) on my desktop... And it's more than just a Finder window issue I just now discovered... Because I first had this apple discussion page open in Safari... I made sure Safari was active and then opened the Preview (.png) file... It opened BEHIND the Safari page. That did NOT happen before I upgraded to Sequoia... I then made Safari active again and then opened the .rtf file... IT opened on top of the Safari page as one would have expected... I then did the same test of those two docs but with the Messages app open... Same result... TextEdit (.rtf) opened on top of Messages but Preview (.png) file opened behind... So it would appear to be some preference or settings issue with Preview maybe??? Just looked at that apps settings and see attached two screenshots of pertinent settings for Preview... By the way I just now noted that even Preview's setting window opened behind an active Safari window... So..... Preview... Something changed...

Might ask you another related question about default screenshot SIZE (pixels per screen point) in Preview that's been an issue for some time now but that's a different topic for another time maybe... thanks....

Just now went to Apple Feedback to offer input on the issue I described and Preview.app does NOT show up on their list anywhere at Product Feedback - Apple .... Amazing because it certainly shows up as Preview.app in my Application folder... And no offer for "other" input... Any input on how I might send feedback on the issue I described... ???? By macOS maybe since this issue clearly started the day I upgraded from Sonoma to Sequoia????? Or just pick some other app but talk about Preview??? Strange... Appreciate the help....

I do have a few (but not many) 3rd party pieces of software... But about 3rd party system mods??? Don't know...

I do have Office 365 as I use Excel a lot... I'm also a rare beast (or at least I think I am) who run security software, specifically Intego's NetBarrier and VirusBarrier...

I also have Google Chrome and Firefox but I rarely open those... usually use Safari...

And note, whatever happened here happened when I upgraded from Sonoma to Sequoia... Not that that means much but it's about the only thing I know...

Just now tried an Excel doc... Opened it (opens in another screen as I use what I would call "Spaces" (Mission Control) first such that Excel was active... Then sitting on my desktop I placed a simple screenshot (Preview .png file) and a text doc (TextEdit .txt)... Same issue... With Excel active, when I double click the screenshot, I see the active window quickly change to Finder and then to Preview (but the doc appears behind the spreadsheet).. When I open the TextEdit doc, I see it switch to Finder, then to TextEdit and that doc lands, as would be expected, on top of the spreadsheet...

Just reporting... I also do have your "EtreCheck Pro" (version 6.8.1 (68024)), not the Power User version... Is that current??? Should I run that??? I've run it before but it's been a long time... Any other app I can use to open .png files other than Preview??? Again, thanks for the help...